"Three Sacred Treasures" that are indispensable in the backcountry
Avalanche gear is a must-have when entering the backcountry (BC).
In particular, the beacon, probe, and shovel will complement each other in their functions when encountering an avalanche, enabling rescue. These are called the "Three Sacred Treasures" because they are the most important items that are essential for avalanche searches. In snowy mountains, you never know when an avalanche will occur. The three Sacred Treasures are essential not only for protecting one's own life, but also for helping the companions who entered the mountain together. If you want to enjoy the backcountry safely from now on, please buy it if it is a necessity! However, for BC beginners who have never used it before, it is a bit difficult to choose from among the many products. There is something perfect for such BC beginners.
It is a three-piece set of a beacon, a probe, and an excavator sold by mountaineering manufacturers.
Roles of beacons, probes and excavators
[Beacon]
To receive radio waves transmitted by the transceiver held by a buried subject (person requiring rescue), or to transmit radio waves to inform their position when they encounter an avalanche and are buried. requirement.
[Probe]
Used by inserting the probe into the snow surface to pinpoint where the buried subject roughly searched by the beacon is located.
[Excavator]
Once you know the burial point, you will need it to actually dig out the buried person from the snow. It is also used to check whether the weak layer is prone to avalanches.
User-friendly 3-piece set without hesitation
The advantage is that users don't need to get lost because they are already set. Many of them target BC beginners, and are packaged from a user-friendly perspective, such as those that are easy to operate, those that are as lightweight and durable as possible, and those in a relatively reasonable price range. Thanks to this, even beginners can purchase with confidence. bca and others have developed multiple packages to meet user needs.
Let's take a look at what kind of package is available, and introduce the package of a proven brand as a BC gear manufacturer.
bca's beacons are the most widely used in North America as simple, visual, easy to use and durable products.
The TRACKER series has been highly praised for its ability to catch signals quickly, its display to quickly follow changes in the situation, and its ability to search for multiple buried subjects. Develop 3 types of avalanche rescue packages according to user needs. There are 3 different types of beacons, but the same set of probes and shovels.
bca | T4 RESCURE PACKAGE
Beacon: TRACKER4
Probe: STEALTH270
Excavator: B-1EXT
Price: 66,000 yen
A high-end rescue package capable of the most advanced searches. Beacons include the latest version of the TRACKER series, TRACKER4. TRACKER4 has changed the beep tone to make it easier to hear when searching, increased the size of the liquid crystal display to improve visibility, and added a rubber grip to the body to prevent falling. The probe shovel is a set of STEALTH270 and B-1EXT as well as the other two packages.
bca | T3⁺ RESCURE PACKAGE
Beacon: TRACKER3
Probe: STEALTH270
Excavator: B-1EXT
Price: 60,500 yen
bca's most chosen rescue package. TRACKER3 is the thinnest and easy-to-use model among bca beacons with instant real-time display. It is a design that does not interfere with more active riding and also considers storage. The probe shovel is packaged with STEALTH270 and B-1EXT like TS RESCURE PACKAGE.
bca | TS RESCURE PACKAGE
Beacon: TRACKER S
Probe: STEALTH270
Excavator: B-1EXT
Price: 55,000 yen
A rescue package with high cost performance while having all the necessary items. The beacon is TRACKER S. The performance is the same as TRACKER4 and TRACKER3, but the operability and price are standard for entry users and affordable. The probe is STEALTH270 of 270 cm. It is a standard model that is trusted by professionals and advanced users. The excavator is packaged with the widely used B-1EXT.
Manufacturer of highly reliable mountaineering gear, from climbing & backcountry gear to trekking gear. The brand was founded by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. At Snowfield, backcountry gear including skis and poles, especially safety gear such as avalanche beacons, shovels and probes, are highly trusted.
Black Diamond | BD Recon Avy Safety Set
Beacon: Recon BT
Probe: QuickDraw Probe 240
Excavator: Transfer
Price: 51,700 yen
Entry set with Recon BT beacon, Transfer shovel and QuickDraw Probe 240.
An entry set with excellent cost performance while arranging items that are lightweight and easy to handle with durability. The ReconBT beacon is the most entry-level beacon of the three Blackdiamond beacons, but it has a sufficient reception range of 60m. The excavator is a new Transfer shovel this season, and the shaft is telescopic and easy to grip. The probe is 240 cm long, easy to assemble and easy to handle for BC beginners.
◆ Contact: Lost Arrow https://www.lostarrow.co.jp/index.html
ORTOVOX, a long-established brand of avalanche transceivers. The commitment to high technology and craftsmanship typical of Germany, the kingdom of manufacturing, is demonstrated in products such as mountain wear and accessories, with the brand's roots in avalanche gear. ORTOVOX offers a training course on mountain safety called "SAFETY ACADEMY" where you can learn about avalanche rescue through video.
ORTVOX | AVALANCHE RESCUE SET DIRACT VOICE LIGHT
Beacon: Direct Voice
Probe: 240 Allure QAS
Excavator: Professional Light
Price: 70,950 yen
The world's first search voice navigation system equipped with a beacon "Direct Voice" is in the center, and a popular and easy-to-use probe and excavator are packaged.
Direct Voice is an epoch-making product that reliably guides you to the burial point by voice within 50 meters of the effective search range. If you understand how to use it, even if you are blindfolded, you can find a buried subject (transmitting beacon) with a high-level navigation system. It's an item.
The probe is the 3rd lightest in the lineup "240 Allurite QAS". It is robustly made and has 7 shafts, so it can be stored more compactly. The excavator is "Professional Light". Among the ORTOVOX brand excavators, it is the lightest and best-selling model in Japan. It is easy to handle, has acquired UIAA certification, and can be trusted for durability and usefulness. The lightness of 440g is very useful for beginners who want to reduce the load as much as possible in the unfamiliar backcountry.
◆ Contact: Magic Mountain http://www.magic-mountain.jp/item/brand/index.html
A specialized brand of snow safety gear such as avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels. We have built an intelligent avalanche system with the latest electronics, such as a beacon that can be set and managed with a smartphone, and a probe that catches the radio waves of the beacon and informs the distance to the buried subject by beep sound and flashing LED light.
PIEPS ｜ PIEPS Set "i Probe BT"
Beacon: Micro BT sensor
Excavator: C660
Probe: i-probe BT260
Price: 66,000 yen
The set "i-probe BT" that will be PIEPS's fastest rescue system. The beacon is the smallest and lightest model of PIEPS, has a spherical reception range of 50m, and has a large and easy-to-read display. "Micro BT sensor" that automatically switches between transmission and reception to reduce switching time and prevent switching errors. The i-probe BT can shorten fine search and pinpointing by as much as 60% by letting you know when the probe hits with sound and light. The excavator is equipped with a C660 that allows you to quickly assemble the handle and blade without pressing a button.
PIEPS ｜ PIEPS Set "Micro BT Button"
Beacon: Micro BT Button
Excavator: T500 Standard
Probe: Aluminum 220
Price: 50,380 yen
PIEPS's smallest, lightest and intuitive 3-antenna "micro BT button" is equipped with a button-type switch that can be manually switched from transmission mode to reception mode. The excavator is a complete kit with a compact and lightweight "T500 Standard" and an "Aluminum 220 probe".
PIEPS ｜ PIEPS Set "Powder BT"
Beacon: Powder BT
Excavator: C660
Probe: Aluminum 260 Sport
Price: 46,200 yen
"Powder BT" is a beacon for backcountry freaks that has a search range of 50m and supports simple, fast and accurate searches. A basic set that includes the highly functional and cost-effective "Powder BT", a C660 excavator with a C-shaped handle for excellent workability, and an aluminum 260 probe with excellent durability.
◆ Contact: Lost Arrow User Support
https://www.lostarrow.co.jp/store/contact/contact.aspx
Learn to master your avalanche gear
To ensure that avalanche gear is not just a talisman or decoration, you must acquire knowledge of avalanches and techniques to deal with them so that you can actually use them on the snow. Definitely learn from the experts.
Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) is a professional organization working on avalanche safety for outdoor activities in winter. Many of the guides who provide backcountry tours are members of this JAN and have the qualification of "avalanche operator".
JAN not only trains experts, but also provides general climbers and backcountry enthusiasts with educational opportunities regarding avalanches.
As an opportunity to become aware of the dangers of avalanches, we hold "safety seminars" and "snow workshops" to learn about avalanche countermeasures in the field. There are two types of safety seminars:
①AN (Avalanche Night): A two-hour free seminar where you can listen to basic knowledge about avalanches and case studies of accidents.
wide range of people from beginners to experienced people ②miniAN (Mini Avalanche Night): A small seminar held by JAN members with specialized skills in avalanche.
People who want to go into the snowy mountains from now on, and those who have little experience can feel free to participate .
Beginners are eligible for the "AvSAR Basic Course" for 1 day and the "BSC (Basic Safety Camp)" for 2 days.
By taking these courses, you will be able to acquire comprehensive and important basic knowledge related to avalanche safety measures. There is also an "ASC (Advanced Safety Camp)" for experienced riders. See the JAN website for details.
◆ Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) https://nadare.jp/
Watch an avalanche search video that shows how to use the Avalanche Rescue Gear
AvSAR (Japan Avalanche Search and Rescue Association) provided by JAN as a resource on its official website You can see how the actual search using the beacon probe excavator is done.
[Flow of AvSAR Basic rescue]
[Search by AvSAR Basic avalanche beacon]
[How to use AvSAR Basic probe]
[AvSAR Basic excavation]